Car-coupling



NI'IED' STATES Y RANSOM S. SUMNER, OF FULLERTON, NEBRASKA.-

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,510, dated. February 8, 1887.

' Application filed April 1-2, 1886. Serial N0.,15l8,768. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RANsoM S. SUMNER, of Fullerton, in the. county of Nance and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and use- 5 ful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a car-coupling, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to de scribe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is aside or perspective view of my coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top surface view of the same with oscillating links detached. Fig. 4 is an edge view of oscillating link, spring, and cut-oft section of draw-head.

A represents bumpers.

B represents platform, which may be made of wood, wrought or cast iron, solid or perforated. This platform is bolted fast on top of oscillating link for the purpose, first, to intercept the brakemen in case they fall between the cars while passing from one to another; second, it is a handle by which the link is operated from either side of the cars, thus avoiding the danger of going betweenthem.

0 represents draw-head, which is made of cast-iron orother substantial material. This draw-head is so constructed that all the features and uses of the link-and-pin draw-head now in general use are retained substantially, so that it can be used, making all couplings with the old links and pins; separate and independent from my improvements. Thus by retaining the features of the old draw-head couplings can bemade at pleasiire and with-v out delay with cars of all denominations.

N N, Fig. 2, represent recesses in ends of draw-heads to receive old-style links.

I I representpin-holes for pins, old style. L L, Fig. 1, represent draw-lugs projecting upward, over which loop end of oscillating link E drops when coupling is made by'my new device.

L L, Fig. 3, represent the horseshoe shape of draw-lugs at their base, in the half-circle of which is space for pin-hole I.

D represents dead wood.

E, Fig. 1, represents oscillating link lying in position with looped end encircling drawlugs L L when coupled.

E, Fig. 2, represents oscillating link in upright position uncoupled.

E, Fig. 4, represents oscillating-link, edge view, large scale.

F, Fig. 4, represents a spring made from best spring-steel. Said spring is made fast to draw-head at outer end, directly under journal end of oscillating link. It is fastened by bolt or rivet; or hook end may beinserted in a recess in top of draw-head, made for the purpose. (See Fig. 2.) In Fig. 4 dotted lines show the movement spring F makes when the link E is thrown up or down.

X represents a lug with slot in the center and closed at the back, through which a bolt, R, passes, through the hole S in the end of link E, alterjournal end of same has been inserted in slot, securing it in position on top of spring F, which is slightly pressed down.

T, Fig. 2, represents recess under the flexible end of spring F, to allow it to descend when link is operated.

P represents section of box-car.

, H H H represent staples made fast to car, through which pass the coupling-rod G, which makes a joint or elbow with the arm J at O, the lower end of which is fast to link E by means of ajournal. I

M represents an iron plate made fast to the car.

Now, when the rod G is forced down, the

elbow O is pressed against the plate M, on

which it glides downward, and the arm J throws the link E forward until its lower corner passes aperpendicular line, when the spring F, which is bent to its lowest point, now reacts as the corneris rounded, causing the link to snap down, encircling the draw-lugs L L with its .loop end. (See Fig. 1.) The spring F has nowassumed its normal position, exerting a gentle pressure,holding the link,together with its own weight, in a horizontal position. All

these parts above described act in an opposite 5 direction when the coupling-rod Gis pulled up.

K K, Fig. 1, represents cross-rod made fast to link E, by which the coupling is operated from either side of the cars when the platform is not used.

10 Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with the draw-head C, the draw-lugs L L, and recess T, with spring F and slotted lugs X, as and for the purposes :5 herein set forth.

2. The oscillating link E and bolt R, the arm J, the coupling-rod G, plate M, staples I-I, with platform B, and crossrod K, as and for the purposes herein set forth. 20

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of March, 1886.

RANSOM S. SUMNER. 

